TO: | Honorable Patrick M. Rose, Chair, House Committee on Human Services |
FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | SB261 by Zaffirini (Relating to the detention and transportation of a person with a mental illness.), As Engrossed |
Developing suitable short-term detention alternatives could result in costs to local mental health authorities or the reallocation of resources from current services.
Transporting individuals for mental health purposes could result in savings to sheriffs’ departments due to reduced jail time and fewer doses of psychotropic drugs. However, arranging a bed in a proper and accessible facility could have a negative financial effect on the local mental health and mental retardation authority which is difficult to quantify.
Other factors are associated with developing an accurate fiscal impact, including the number transports each year; availability of beds in nearby state facilities; transportation costs if a local bed is not available (for distances from 160 to 1,240 miles); overtime, meals and lodging costs during transport; and overtime for officers taking over the duties of the personnel involved in transport.
Source Agencies: | 537 State Health Services, Department of
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LBB Staff: | JOB, CL, PP, KJG, SSt
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